Aaron Rodgers Leads Packers Over Falcons, 43-37

Aaron Rodgers threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns, and the Packers held off the Atlanta Falcons, 43-37, in Green Bay on Monday night. The Packers nearly saw a 24-point lead evaporate into the cold air of Lambeau Field, but Rodgers picked up a crucial first down with a 12-yard run just after the two-minute warning to help secure the victory.

After trailing 31-7 at halftime, Atlanta (5-8) dominated the second half. They closed to within 34-24 on Matt Ryan’s 22-yard TD pass to Julio Jones early in the fourth quarter. Rodgers responded by throwing a 60-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson on Green Bay’s next possession.

Ryan led the Falcons on two more touchdown drives in the fourth quarter — the last capped by a 2-yard toss to Harry Douglas that cut Atlanta’s deficit to six points. However, the NFC South leaders couldn’t recover the ensuing onside kick, and Rodgers put the game away with his late scamper near midfield.

Jones set a Falcons’ franchise record with 259 receiving yards on 11 catches. Ryan passed for 375 yards with four touchdowns and an interception.

The Packers (10-3) jumped out to the big first-half lead thanks to a 3-yard first-quarter TD run by James Starks, a 1-yard second-quarter scoring run by Eddie Lacy and Rodgers’ touchdown passes to Lacy and Nelson.

Nelson finished the game with eight receptions for 146 yards and two scores for Green Bay.